Town of Warwick
Selectboard
September 4, 2012
Minutes
Members present: Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon
Member Absent due to illness: Nick Arguimbau
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, WiredWest Representative Reva Reck (arrived at 6:10
pm), Dan Masscroft (Wendell resident), Police Chief David Shoemaker
(arrived at 6:45 pm), Jon Calcari, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News)
I. Call to Order
Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall.
Public Comment
None.
Minutes
Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of the August 20, 2012 meeting as
printed. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0.
IV. Presentations and Discussions
1. Proposed Energy Contract with Seaboard Solar--Young said that he
had received an Email this morning from Town Counsel with all desired
changes incorporated into the proposed contract. Wendell resident Dan
Masscroft was in attendance, as he had gone through the process of
contracting with Seaboard Solar as part of his town's energy committee.
Masscroft said that Wendell went through months of revisions on their
contract. He suggested that Warwick reserve a couple of megawatts for
the Town. Lemon asked Young if doing this would require a revision to
the current proposed contract; Young responded in the affirmative.
Lemon MOVED that the Selectboard sign the contract when it comes in with
the Seaboard Solar signatures. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0.
Young said that he favored focusing on the adoption of solar options
for residents of town.
2. Update on Wired West--Reva Reck reported that WiredWest has been
working on putting together a business plan and compiling data for the
engineering company Matrix. This company will produce a high level
network design for the participating towns and produce cost estimates
and evidence of demand for the service, which will be used to seek and
secure financing. Reck said that the business plan should be completed
by the end of October, at which point they will begin the approach to
various financial institutions. She said that she expects financing to
be secured next year, and service provided, with total build-out
completed within a year and a half to two years. Reck noted that several
factors, including the rate at which pole permits are obtained from the
utilities that own the poles to be used.
Reck said that WiredWest wants to be the internet service provider
for the participating towns and their municipal buildings such as
town halls, libraries, and schools. She said that she would like to
come before the Board again along with some other Wired West
personnel to further explain all that WiredWest has to offer. Young
gave Reck figures for which to obtain cost quotes on connectivity
for Town hall (100 Mb) and Mt. Grace (250 Mb).
Reck also mentioned the Support Cards to be sent to every household
shortly to help strengthen their business case. She asked that the
Board publicize the cards, as word of mouth will help to maximize
the documented number of people expressing interest in WiredWest and
noted that individuals may respond online, as well (see the August
Newsletter).
Reck also asked Lemon if, as Warwick's Alternate Representative to
WiredWest, she would be able to attend the upcoming meeting in New
Salem; Lemon responded in the affirmative.
3. Proposed Broadband Contract Renewals -- Young said that DCR has had
the final contracts for more than two weeks. Young asked Lemon to
contact DCR tomorrow to move things along; she agreed to do so.
Surplus Property Declaration-- The new Ford one-ton dump truck is now in
service, and the Board needed to declare the 2001 GMC one-ton truck
surplus so it may be sold at auction.
Young had also requested that the Board declare an old dry valve and
trim as surplus property so he could give them to the Tech School.
Lemon MOVED to declare as surplus property the 2001 GMC truck and the
Victaulic 4" dry valve and trim. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0.
5. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Resolution--Board Chair
Dawn Magi had received a letter from Andrew Morehouse, Executive
Director of the Food bank of Western Massachusetts. In the letter he
requested that the Board issue a proclamation officially declaring the
month of September as Hunger Action Month in Warwick. The letter
included a page intended as a sample proclamation.
Lemon MOVED that the proclamation on Hunger Action Month be published on
behalf of the Selectboard. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0.
6. Hampshire Power Resolution--The Hampshire Council of Governments
had sent the Selectboard a letter requesting the Board's endorsement of
their petition on Municipal Aggregation of Electricity to the Department
of Public Utilities. The proposal had previously been approved by Town
Meeting.
Lemon MOVED to sign the Municipal Aggregation of Electricity petition on
behalf of the Town. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0.
7. WCS Sprinkler Code Compliance Work-- Young said that the WCS
sprinkler system had been repaired by S&S Fire Service at a cost of
$13,364.18. Young went on to say that the deputy State Fire Marshall had
ordered additional work to be done within 60 days. This work will
include adding a low-water sensor to the tank, repairs to the fire pump
controller to provide redundant standing capacity functionality, and
adding five addressable monitor modules. The estimated cost for this
work is $13,300.00. In answer to a query from Lemon, Young noted that
this repair work will use up all available funds in the WCS improvement
account. Lemon said that she wanted to see the repair order in writing.
Lemon MOVED to approve the S&S Fire Service, LLC contract subject to
written order from the State Fire Marshal. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED
2-0-0.
Selectboard Reports--No one had anything specific to report.
9. Coordinator Report-- There were no questions on Young's written
report. Young said that the old highway signs had sold on eBay to a
buyer from New York state for $460.00.
Young said that there are still seven poles in town that Verizon
needed to remove. Chief Shoemaker said that Verizon still owes quite
a bit of money for police details, which causes a cash-flow problem
for the department. The Chief agreed to supply Young with copies of
the invoices he had previously submitted to Verizon, so that Young
may resubmit in hopes of securing prompt payment.
10. New and Other Business--Lemon reminded Selectboard members of
Bernardston's 250th Anniversary celebration parade on September 22nd in
which they have been invited to participate.
IV. Adjournment
At 7:07 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Magi SECONDED. Motion
CARRIED 2-0-0.